http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudofolliculitis_barbae

I've read some of the older threads but many of those seem to be dealing with people suffering from basic cases of razor burn. Also, many people (including me) seem to associate this with simple acne and breakouts but upon reading it's definitely more complex than that.

I've got it on my neck and nothing i've tried has seemed to have any effect on it. I've googled but as you know there are opinions everywhere. I dont have any acne on my face and i've tried basic acne topicals and other stuff as well with no luck. I've tried different razors (blade/electric), shave soaps etc etc. Many of the posted solutions also involve growing the beard and letting the area heal on its own before beginning medication and shaving again. I may very well do that next. I shaved the neck area when i grew my beard over the winter so this time i'll let it go as well.

Another medication i've read that helps is Glycolic Acid, but it doesn't seem to be as popular as an ingredient (as say salicylic acid) in OTC washes and topicals so i haven't been able to try that yet.

And then their is the stuff with the black guy on the front, i can't remember the name, has anyone tried that?

I take good care of my skin and shave very carefully. It's not something I rush.

Any personal advice would be great.

[Edited on March 27, 2009 at 11:42 AM. Reason : add]

3/27/2009 11:40:42 AM

Dude, did you search 'Pseudofolliculitis barbae' before making this thread??

3/27/2009 11:41:23 AM

get the black guy razor bump thing... it works, even for white folks!

3/27/2009 11:44:47 AM

yes quite a bit. Like i said, there are opinions everywhere. But this place is great for gaining insight through personal experiences instead of just the copy/pasted resources that seem to be on every site i've visited.




Bump Patrol is the name of the stuff with the black guy on it.

[Edited on March 27, 2009 at 11:55 AM. Reason : add]

3/27/2009 11:44:54 AM

have you tried using a double-edge safety razor? my neck used to break out in the way you're describing, no matter which multi-blade razor/soap/gel/foam combination i used...i switched from multi-blade razors to a parker safety and now my neck breaks out MUCH less...i use the shaving soap you can get at wal-mart, and it doesn't bother my skin (and i have pretty sensitive skin on my face)

3/27/2009 12:01:24 PM

if you don't have acne anywhere other then where you shave, it sounds more like irritated or infected skin, not acne. Id imagine applying some sort of acid solution intended for blemishes would only make it worse. Neosporin makes a cream version, it may be worth it to give it a try to sooth the skin and help kill any bacteria so you wont have that problem. I get razorburn bumps easily on my underarms and this helps clear it up. There is this awesome shave cream for women called cootchy cream. I realize its not intended for men but it's bad ass and i swear by it sense i have stoped breaking out sense i began usuing it.

Jen

3/27/2009 12:08:47 PM

^^that's something i've always wanted to try, i just never have. The razors are pretty expensive (from the small amount of shopping i've done for them)


^yeah its definitely not acne, its infection caused by the ingrown hairs. I'll check out the neosporin cream and i've also read that a light cortizone works too when applied while growing the beard out.

3/27/2009 12:12:33 PM

I have the same thing happen on my bikini line and I haven't tried any products for it, but I get it a lot less severely if I go a few days in between shaving and wait until the end of a long shower to shave. So in addition to whatever products you try, maybe wrap your neck in a hot washcloth for a few minutes first.

3/27/2009 12:12:54 PM

yeah i guess i should have prefaced that. I shave every other day in the shower

3/27/2009 12:22:45 PM

Quote :

"^^that's something i've always wanted to try, i just never have. The razors are pretty expensive (from the small amount of shopping i've done for them)"

i think i told quagmire this a while back too when i was trying to talk him into switching but basically--do it. i got this http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/190429.htm one a few years ago and it made a huge difference. my face used to always break out a day or two after i'd shave and now it basically just doesn't. i've had to use a regular mach 3 or whatever is out now a few times because i ran out of blades and my face broke out like crazy again a few days later so i def say it's because of the razor.

it's worth the money--and blades are so cheap it's really not going to cost more in the long run

[Edited on March 27, 2009 at 12:30 PM. Reason : just be careful shaving your balls..you'll cut them off pretty easy jk mang]

3/27/2009 12:27:33 PM

3/27/2009 12:29:18 PM

^^what's the difference between that 70 dollar one there and the 23 dollar "classic" on that site?


that's where i looked a year ago or so and there were just so many but they all seemed the same.




anyone have any experience with this



[Edited on March 27, 2009 at 12:36 PM. Reason : add]

3/27/2009 12:34:31 PM

^^^ exactly...i ended up with a parker 90R from ebay for ~$20 (came with 5 blades)...actually, if you watch heroes on monday nights, the first 90 seconds of this week's episode showed the character shaving with a parker 22r safety razor, with the exact blades it comes with

i actually ran out of blades and soap and went to wal-mart to pick up some other things anyway...they carry one brand of shaving soap and one brand of safety razor blades...the soap was about the same price or maybe a bit less than an equivalent amount of gillette shaving cream (based on use), and the blades were 10/$1...i use one of those twist-retractable foundation brushes that women use for makeup (the girlfriend had one left over from a clinique free gift bag or something, and i didn't feel like spending the money on a badger-hair one)...it works awesomely

the soap is a must...don't use cream or gel or the razor won't work well...the blades are pretty good for the price, though i prefer derbys overall...using a safety razor saves you money after the first couple months, considering multi-blades are ~$3/each and don't last any longer (and don't work nearly as well)

there's a learning curve, and i still cut myself pretty easily, but only when going against the grain (i'm getting better, though)...from the sensitive skin/breakout side, my skin doesn't dry out and it's not irritated nearly as much...i've only gotten a couple of these bumps (you say they're ingrown hairs) in the past month, where previously my neck would have 3-4 a day after each shave...i almost always only shave after a shower (using a safety razor in the shower would waste so much water because it DOES take longer when you're getting used to it), but using moist, warm skin and softened hair works much better

i strongly suggest giving a safety razor a try...i think a lot of the problem is that multi-blade razors push and pull hair significantly more than a good single-blade razor does...so for those of us who have sensitive skin and follicles, it's irritating and causes problems

these two are GREAT beginners, since they they tend to be longer than traditional DE razors and feel more like a mach3 or something...the 90 is a bit longer and heavier than the 22, but both are awesome, especially for $26 shipped with blades included

parker 90r: http://www.amazon.com/Parker-90R-Handle-Double-Platinum/dp/B0017ZHZZ0
parker 22r: http://www.amazon.com/Parker-22R-Butterfly-Safety-Razor/dp/B0017QSZY4/

[Edited on March 27, 2009 at 12:45 PM. Reason : arrows]

3/27/2009 12:40:58 PM

I've gotten to where I just shave in the shower. When I don't, my neck usually breaks out - particularly if I shave against the grain. Also, someone suggested using Johnson's Baby Wash instead of shaving cream. That really seemed to help too.

3/27/2009 12:47:53 PM

^^i like the looks of that Parker 22. Are they pretty good quality? Sounds like a pretty good deal for the razor and 10 blades.


May give that a shot

3/27/2009 1:24:34 PM

I didn't know walmart carried the blades. I'll look for them next time I'm there-I'm almost out

3/27/2009 1:53:40 PM

I didn't feel like reading all the responses so sorry if this has already been said, but, if you already have razor bumps use hydrocotisone.

Quote :

"Reach for hydrocortisone. Reduce embarrassing redness by immediately applying a dab of 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to the area after you shave. "It will take the redness, sting and irritation right down," says Dr. Placek. Hydrocortisone constricts blood vessels, so less blood flows to the area--meaning less redness. "You probably need to do this only twice the first day, and symptoms should fade." But don't use hydrocortisone daily. Any preparation containing cortisone should be used only as a short-term treatment, for a couple applications or a few days at most. "If you overuse cortisone, your skin could become habituated to it and actually become redder and more irritated when you stop using it," warns Dr. Placek. "So it's not meant to be applied every day." Plus, overuse of cortisone preparations can thin skin over time; blood vessels in the area may enlarge, and in your pubic area, you could even get stretch marks."

Don't really know how to prevent except use warm water to shave and of course shaving cream. This one site also says to clean your blade with alcohol after shaving.

Found this solution

Quote :

"There's actually a shaving cream called Benzashave, which contains benzoyl peroxide, and it can help minimize razor bumps. If you're prone, use it every time you shave"

from http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/19/192.cfm

3/27/2009 2:03:35 PM

This is what I did to combat bumps:

1) get a good razor. This one is #32 and I like it because the handle is a bit longer.
http://www.leesrazors.com/products/Merkur-Long-Handled-Barber-Comb-Safety-Razor.html

2) search for some cheap blades. Like this
http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522941/196010.htm

3) shave after you shower or put a hot towel on your face and neck before shaving.

4) use a good shave cream, rub it into your skin very well.

5) shave in the direction that the hair grows (this helps out the most)

6) clean off your razor blade when done

7) store it in an alcohol solution to keep it from sharpening quickly and to kill bacteria (just started doing this, it helps the razor keep its edge for a few more shaves per blade)

8) once your razor starts pulling hair instead of cutting it, stop using it.

3/27/2009 2:05:29 PM

I am going to try a DE razor. Just ordered the Parker 22r and some extra derby blades as those 7am blades were reviewed pretty poorly. Thanks Quag for the link.


used super saver shipping so it will probably be 10 days till this comes in.

Until then i'll try some bump patrol.



but getting back on the topic of razor bumps, do you guys use aftershaves post shaving or a moistureizer?

[Edited on March 27, 2009 at 2:20 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2009 2:13:17 PM

I use nivea aftershave and massage it in good. Then some alcohol based cologne after that.

3/27/2009 2:28:07 PM

Quote :

"I am going to try a DE razor. Just ordered the Parker 22r and some extra derby blades as those 7am blades were reviewed pretty poorly. Thanks Quag for the link."

awesome, another convert...glad i could help

the 7am blades aren't BAD, really...it's just that, depending on the razor and blades you use, you create a slightly different shaving experience that may or may not work well with the contours, texture, firmness, hair thickness, etc. of your face...the multi-blade people overcome this by using multiple blades that are more flexible...but it also means that the razors will oftentimes pass over, poorly cut, or tug the hair on your face (though you should get fewer nicks)

derbys and feathers give ME, personally, the best shave with the 90R...the 7am didn't nick me more or less, they just didn't cut as close...the blades they sell at wal-mart are the same thing...they're great backup blades since they're so cheap, but they don't cut as close as the derbys or feathers...i tend to feel like i want to shave twice, the second time against the grain, to get the same closeness that the derbys and feathers do once...but i still use them because it's convenient and most of the time, it doesn't really matter (it's just personal preference)

as a word of advice, give yourself a month to get used to the razor...there are a couple of things you have do differently with a DE than you do with a multi-blade, and you will likely nick yourself a fair amount before you get the hang of it (though the nicks are usually much cleaner and don't bleed nearly as much as a one with a multi-blade...think of the difference between cutting yourself with a sharp knife versus a dull one):

- DE razors are heavy for a reason - let them rest on your face instead of applying pressure like you have to with a multi-blade
- angle matters: the closer the razor is to being parallel to your face, the sharper the cut will be (and the closer the shave)...somewhere between 30 and 45 degrees is probably a good place to start
- your skin has to get used to a DE razor...the more you shave, the fewer nicks you'll encounter because of improved technique and because your skin is used to the way it cuts your hair...give yourself a month of going ONLY with the hair before you start trying to go against or across
- i don't know how often you shave, but i would suggest starting out by only using a blade for 7 shaves...if you shave daily, that's a week...if you shave every other day, that's two weeks...remember that the razor has two edges, so it's a good habit to get used to alternating sides while you shave, so that you don't end up using a side that's duller than the other
- buying blades in bulk isn't necessarily bad, but if they sit around for too long outside of a sealed package, they'll oxidize and become dull...if they're sealed, it's no biggie (it's really only an issue because you can pick up the more common multi-blades pretty much anywhere)
- use shaving soap! shaving gels/creams/foams SUCK for DE razors (at least, so my experience tells me)

there are probably some other little bits of advice others can contribute...this site is pretty awesome: http://badgerandblade.com/

Quote :

"but getting back on the topic of razor bumps, do you guys use aftershaves post shaving or a moistureizer?"

i don't use aftershave, but i do use moisturizer...because my skin is so sensitive (particularly on my face), i generally only use burt's bee's lotion (milk and honey? something like that)...i used to use clinique's lotion, but they switched to a gel formula that left my face feeling dry...the aveeno lotion with oats or whatever also doesn't bother my face and feels good

i feel like such a girl

3/27/2009 2:47:09 PM

Quote :

"feathers give ME, personally, the best shave"

funny thing is he PM'd me and i told him the exact opposite about the feathers . i'm not sure if my skin is just too soft/thin or what but i always cut the shit out of myself with those..they were too sharp or something

3/27/2009 2:49:40 PM

^ yeah! a friend gave me something like this as a gift: http://www.fendrihan.com/razor-blades-sampler-feather-astra-merkur-derby-p-230.html

and i found that the derbys were my favorite, followed VERY closely by the feathers...everyone's face is different, i guess

3/27/2009 2:52:29 PM

how do you guys store these kinds of razors? You keep them in an alcohol mixture or just rinse and let em sit?

3/27/2009 6:15:09 PM

I just leave mine in the case it came in.

3/27/2009 6:40:26 PM

So random, I was thinking of making this exact thread with virtually the same title yesterday. I've been battling ingrown hairs for probably 6-7 years now. I had some moderately annoying acne growing up but managed to get it all taken care of with two rounds of Accutane. My face/chest/neck/back was in really great shape for a few years when I started getting bumps on my face again. For a couple years I assumed it was acne until I somehow came around to the idea it was something related to shaving.

I even went so far as to get 2 (or maybe 3?) rounds of laser hair removal on my neck because I don't really care (well, I didn't then, and I still don't have a preference) to grow a beard on my neck. The laser treatment seemed to work ok, but the price I was paying per treatment ($200) was entirely too much to keep getting it to see if I could basically knock out the majority of the hair on my neck. It's been about 5 years since then and I can't tell that I actually had any hair removal that has stuck.

I've tried all sorts of different things over the years and nothing seems to work consistently for me. I seemed to have better results using fairly fresh mach 3s and using cooler water and shaving EVERY day. For me, I have curly facial hair and I know that the hairs are getting stuck below the skin and curling under and causing very massive bumps/hard places on my face that can hang around for over a month. It's gotten so bad recently that I was starting to grow a beard to see if that would put a halt to things. I ended up having to shave the for some job interviews so I'm going to have to try it out again. If that really seems to fix the problem then I am going to try and electric razor next because the idea is if I don't cut close enough to the surface the hairs can't get trapped under the skin and cause ingrowns.

Having read some responses though, I suppose it could be the razor gets dull and starts pulling hairs out, which would certainly seem to be more inclined to causing ingrowns than just hair being cut closer to the surface.

How are the double edges better than a triple edge blade? If the problem is being caused because the hairs are being cut too close (one theory), does a double edge help in that the shave isn't as close? If the hairs are being pulled, then does a double edge help because it stays sharper better and continues to cut for longer?

[Edited on March 27, 2009 at 7:17 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2009 7:15:03 PM

Ive had this before, many times, and I cant recommend NOT to use double/triple/quad blades! They get too close for something with shaving irritation. Buy some cheap ass single blade, plastic bic razors -- I buy 12 for like 2 bucks at Target. The pack will last me around a month or so. Its a rather lousy shave but it doesnt get close enough to every irritate my skin or ive me ingrown hairs. This is by far the best way to eliminate the bumps and irritation. Get some good sensitive skin shave GEL, get the face warm, cover it, and barely barely touch your skin with the blade. Do not ever push the skin down, just lightly run over the surface.

Ive had this problem forever and this method seems to really help me out a lot.

3/27/2009 11:02:27 PM

I enjoy my Merkur LH Classic, a Feather (or Derby or Gillette Platinum) blade, Vulfix brush, and either Col. Conk soap or Proraso cream.

I have a lot of blades to give away, Lord, Sharp, Treet (blue), 7am, Gillette SharpEdge, Bics, Dorco 300's, to people that want to try them. I can probably spare some of the Proraso cream too (it's in a tube, just squirt some out into a container). And some Pinaud Clubman (personally don't like it).

I love my aftershave though:

3/27/2009 11:39:38 PM

People don't pay close enough attention to the direction of the hair on the neck... they just assume it is all going one direction. I have 5-6 different regions on my neck where the hairs go in different directions. When I started paying attention to this and shaving accordingly I all but eliminated razor bumps.

3/28/2009 3:56:20 AM

if you want to find glycolic acid products, go to ulta


they have a small, but decent selection of them


also walgreens sells a generic glycolic acid cream

3/28/2009 5:20:44 PM

Good deal.

3/28/2009 5:46:57 PM

simple solution.... laser hair removal never shave again

3/28/2009 5:56:52 PM

http://www.tendskin.com




its an aftershave that eliminates razor bumps, but it hurts like a bitch if you nick yourself. this works great for areas below the belt too. it is basically asprin dissolved in alcohol. its pretty expensive for what it is, so i am thinking about trying to make it myself.

3/28/2009 6:19:11 PM

i have the same problem. i just stopped shaving against the grain, and i don't really have to deal with it anymore. i don't get the closest shave, and i have to shave more often, but it beats having to deal with razor burn and ingrown hairs and all the other bullshit i had to deal with before.

3/28/2009 7:09:10 PM

I will preface this with
I AM BLACK, AND SUFFER FROM RAZORBUMPS

does in fact help. the root of the issue (in my case) were curly, ingrown hairs. These helped nearly completely eliminate the issue

grow all the hair giving you issues WAY out, like to the point where it's itchy
shave it to a respectable level with clippers (I use wahl http://www.tristatecamera.com/lookat.php?refid=279&sku=WAH9918617 - $20 at walmart)
BRUSH your face in the direction of hair growth every day with a stiff brush, removing dead skin preemptively is very helpful
wash the skin with hot water before shaving
do not try to shave too close
keep shaving utensils sharp and clean

[Edited on March 28, 2009 at 9:09 PM. Reason : after a shave, follow up with bump patrol]

3/28/2009 9:09:00 PM

good deal, i've actually got that sitting on my sink as we speak

so you recommend growing all the hair out before this will have any effect? I shaved this morning and have applied it twice since. It did say it would take 2 days to notice any change. I probably ought to grow the beard out for a week or two then to really get the full benefit.

3/28/2009 10:52:46 PM

where can one purchase said bump patrol?

and do electric razors not help at all? i'm currently growing my entire face out b/c i get a huge a ton of bumps on my neck, and my plan was to get an electric razor to start using when it cleared up completely. waste of money?

[Edited on March 29, 2009 at 10:33 AM. Reason : .]

3/29/2009 10:32:19 AM

i've read that electrics work. I personally just don't like an electric shave. It just doesnt feel as clean to me. That said, I picked up Bump Patrol at Walgreens, but i've seen it at CVS and Wal-Mart.

3/29/2009 10:57:34 AM

every electric i've ever used has destroyed my neck...the "razor burn" was so bad, i threw aloe with lidocaine on it to get through the first few hours

DE FTW

3/29/2009 11:20:16 AM

I too, am black and suffer from razor burn from time to time.

It starts with the shaving cream, you want to use something that's soap and fragrance free, I use Aveeno Theraputic Shave Gel (dark blue lid).

I use a high quality disposable - schick quatro titanium, I probably swap cartidges before I have to, but its worth it to me not to have the plague on my face.

I avoid scented aftershaves at all costs, the chance of irritation is too high for me personally. I wipe the shave area down with Sea Breeze astringent and follow it up with Tea Tree Oil Anti-Bump lotion

http://www.walgreens.com/beauty/product.jsp?CATID=100781&navAction=jump&navCount=0&id=prod382955

On the off chance I do get a breakout, the Bump Patrol is the best thing I've found for quickly knocking it out.

3/29/2009 2:58:12 PM

Quote :

"i've read that electrics work. I personally just don't like an electric shave. It just doesnt feel as clean to me. "

get a panasonic razor.

it shaves as close as i could ever get with a mach3.

3/29/2009 3:19:17 PM

I get razor bumps really bad if I'm not careful....and even when I am careful
Given, I'm a black male

this stuff works pretty well to help prevent them:

Nivea Aftershave




However, I did just break down and get some quality t-line clippers. My barber tuned them for me for free (thanks Musa). Cuts low enough for it my face to look bald, but it's not.

3/29/2009 5:20:07 PM

i am also not a black male, and i have none of these problems, because i have manly skin, i shave with a rusty bowie knife just so i can make it feel like i shaved

3/29/2009 6:06:15 PM

going to completely revamp my shaving routine and see if i can cure this infection.

I haven't shaved since friday and plan on not shaving again until this coming friday, or later this weekend. Going to let the neck and everything grow out while applying some cortizone to combat the redness and hopefully expose some of the ingrown hairs. I have a DE safety razor on the way and that with some good shave soap and brush i already have i'll replace my current fusion/gel routine. Follow up a close single blade shave with some bump patrol i hope to cure up my neck irritation and put an end to this crap.

3/30/2009 1:28:44 PM

This is a pretty painful route, but it has worked for me before:


Try letting everything grow out a bit (as you already have) and go ingrown hair hunting with a pair of tweezers after a few days. Pull the hairs out completely, and then shave.


Do it again a few days later.


As you do it progressively, you should notice fewer and fewer ingrown hairs each time.

3/30/2009 1:32:54 PM

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention...

When my bumps were really bad, my girlfriend would sit on me once a week with a pin and surgical tweezers and pull out ingrown hairs...

3/30/2009 1:55:56 PM

i'm all alone in this world

3/30/2009 2:17:25 PM

EMCE only wishes he had a girl that would sit on his face

[Edited on March 30, 2009 at 2:26 PM. Reason : a]

3/30/2009 2:19:24 PM

Keflex, will clear your face up into 4-5 days!!

Its an antibiotic. If your doctor wont get u some, then go to pet store and buy antibiotics for fish tank, same thing..........different name

3/30/2009 2:44:45 PM

Quag, Schpen, how long on average does it take you to shave with the DE?

3/30/2009 2:57:14 PM